Change-My-Career.co.uk

Drawing On Graphic Design Training For A New Career...

Do you recognise smart design when you see it - say on a book cover, a magazine, or a brochure - then what about taking a career course in graphic design? Most often graphic design students are good at drawing and took art at school.

However, if you don't have much drawing experience to date that's not the end of the world - graphic designers these days don't necessarily need traditional drawing skills as much of their work is likely to be computer-based.

Working as a graphic designer could mean being employed in a small design company, a large international concern, or working on projects for yourself. If a university course is not appropriate, look at the many commercial training options available - really you'll get more prepared for work in the design world at a commercial college than at university.

On the other hand, if you're set on gaining a university place, you'll find many short introductory design courses will equip you with demo material for interview.

What Should I Look For in A Training Provider?

Selecting the best design college and their most appropriate course elements can appear a bit daunting, but there are simple steps to follow. Take time to search through any available information - not all courses with the same sounding names are in fact the same. And don't limit your research to two or three training companies as good preparation will pay off down the road.

By typing in the bookmarking shortcut 'ctrl d' you'll be able to find this page again easily to carry on researching. The more websites you can familiarise yourself with, the more you'll be in a position to make comparisons, and identify the key factors that are relevant for you.

Fundamentally of course a good college will prove their graphic design skills first and foremost on their website. If they're claiming to be design experts, but even their homepage doesn't impress, you might want to move on. Secondly, are you looking for full-time in-centre training, a part-time course that blends distance learning with college attendance or an entirely home-based on-screen course? Is there any backup and support out of office hours? Should you expect to have to purchase any additional equipment to do the course? Look for testimonials from previous students, and from employers who've taken on ex-students - what was it that impressed them the most?

Commanding Case Studies

Whether you study at home or in college, you'll need to build a portfolio of your best designs. To get your first foot on the career ladder, you'll have to have some case studies to show to potential employers. All training schools should make it possible for you to create your own presentation material showcase, so checkout the standard of the students' work that's displayed on their site.

Designer Preferences

Software skills are taught on graphic design courses, which means trainees must enter college with a good level of computer literacy. Of course training won't be entirely focused on web-based design, but you will find the majority of your work comes from using applications such as InDesign and other elements of the Adobe Creative Suite. Students can usually choose to work on either a PC or a Mac, (colleges of design frequently opt for Macs) as there are Adobe software versions for both types of machines.

Selling your ideas to others is a key aspect of successful commercial design work. This means you need a confident ability to communicate.

Any visual message or art might be the work of a graphic designer, even if it's on a packet of cornflakes. Through the use of font, imagery and shape in a pleasing format, graphic design work can 'speak' to an audience and provoke an emotional response in them for something that otherwise they might not have noticed.

Perspectives In Design

Common themes are used in classic design, and they include texture, balance, contrast and composition. Clever designers use the fundamental laws to put together simple yet mesmerising images and ideas, many of which have transformed the fortunes of dwindling companies. Great graphics contribute to attracting, informing and retaining a large client-base - and that's something every business in the land is desperate for!

Select the training that will educate and enthuse you, then lead you onto success. Find the course that suits your lifestyle, your aspirations and your pocket!